• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.203-212
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• 2011

The objective of this paper is to identify the present-day surficial sediment distribution patterns of the tidal river, Gongneungcheon, through the grain size and statistical analysis. Four major findings of this study are as follows; First, the composition of sediments over the study area are mainly silt in texture. Second, the surficial sediment distribution reveals that grain size becomes coarser as they approach seawards not only in summer but also in winter. It can be concluded that tidal flows play a significant role, especially in winter, in the distribution of surficial sediments in Gongneungcheon. However, samples obtained in summer were relatively small in mean size and showed better sorting compared to those obtained in winter. Third, the mean sizes of the samples on the transects decrease as the distance from the channel increases. Finally, the artificial structure such as a floodgate affects the distribution of the sediments.

• Journal of the korean society of oceanography
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.243-250
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• 2004

Sediment microcosm experiments were conducted for 14 and 28 days using Zn spiked sediment to examine the changing distribution of bioavailab1e sediment-bound Zn at different SEM (simultaneously extracted metal)-Zn/ AVS (acid volatile sulfide) mole ratios as a function of time and amphipod density. In surficial sediments (0-1cm), AVS concentrations significantly decreased due to bioturbation and oxidation, while SEM-Zn concentrations remained unchanged. As a result, SEM-Zn/AVS ratios in the surface sediment were greater one although the ratios were designed as less than one initially. With increasing SEM-Zn/AVS ratios in surficial sediments, concentrations of potentially bioavailable $MgCl_2$extractable-Zn, NaOAc extractable-Zn and pore water-Zn significantly increased, while concentrations of SEM-Zn were not significantly varied. Results suggested that as AVS concentrations decreased, AVS bound Zn was partitioned to other sediment fractions (i.e. $MgCl_2$ and NaOAc extractable) and the pore water, resulting in changes in Zn bioavailability in surficial sediments. Concentrations of AVS, SEM-Zn and pore water-Zn remained unchanged in the deeper layers (>1 cm) of the sediment.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.12 no.8
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• pp.881-889
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• 2003

Spatial and vertical variations of butyltins(BTs) were investigated in polluted sediments from Jinhae, Busan, Ulsan and Yeongil Bays located in the southeastern part of Korea. Tributyltin(TBT) as a dominant species was detected in 18 of the 20 surficial sediments, and TBT levels were lower that for those in heavily polluted areas worldwide, ranging from 12 to 766 ng Sn/g dry wt. Distribution of TBT levels among bays was not significantly different (p=0.286, ANOVA). The horizontal distributions observed at 20 sites suggests that TBT concentrations are still high in polluted sites around harbors and industrial complexes. The sedimentary records a peak in the early 1990s in Jinhae Bay, in the mid 1980s in Ulsan Bay and in the late 1970s in Yeongil Bay except for Busan Bay which had a homogenous profile. In paricular, TBT at the surface sediments of four core samples still had high levels. From the horizontal and vertical results, it could be assumed that TBT inputs in the sediments were not reduced significantly compared to past levels. The annual accumulation rates estimated using the sedimentation rates and the concentration of surficial sediments exhibited that the accumulation rate of Ulsan Bay was greater than the rates for Jinhae and Yeongil Bays.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.479-488
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• 2004

Five sediment cores from the tidal flat of artificial Lake Shihwa are analyzed in terms of sedimentology and geochemistry to evaluate the heavy metal contamination and redox condition of surficial sediment following the Shihwa seawall construction. The variability of concentrations of various elements depends on the depositional environment, and reflects the various redox conditions and sediment provenances. The amounts of Ti and Al and their ratio of Ti/ Al with respect to Li clearly indicate that there is an anthropogenic contribution to the surficial sediment. The high concentrations of heavy metals suggest an anthropogenic contribution at ST. 34 and ST. 22. Concentrations of most elements (Cr, Cu, Zn and Pb) are higher near the Shihwa-Banwol industrial complex than in the central part of Lake Shihwa. Concentrations of heavy metal in surficial sediment near the Shihwa-Banwol industrial complex are two to eight times higher than in the center of Lake Shihwa. Enrichment factors (EF), which are normalized by the unpolluted shale, suggests a significant metallic contamination near the Shihwa-Banwol industrial complex (SBIC). The redox condition is divided into two anoxic and mixed oxi $c_oxic zones based on the carbon:sulfur (C/S) ratios of organic matter and elemental relationships. Correlations among geochemical elements Mn, U and Mo are significantly different from site to site, and may therefore be an indicator of the spatial redox condition. Controlling factors for switching anoxic/oxic conditions are thought to be water depth and the differences in industrial effluent supply. The variations of the Cu/Mn ratio in the sediments confirms above mentioned spatial differences of a redox condition in part, and therefore shows a location-dependence redox condition in sediments at four other sites. The redox condition of the surficial sediment characteristics of the Shihwa Lake are controlled by its geographic location and water depth.th.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.337-345
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• 2003

Surficial sediments from the northern coastal area of Jeju Island, southeastern Yellow Sea (South Sea of Korea) were analyzed for grain-size texture, some geochemical characteristics and clay mineralogy in order to assess their provenance. Rare-earth element compositions and some geochemical discrimination diagrams, especially of Ti/Al, Nb/Al and Rb/Al ratios, were revealed to be useful indices for identifying the origin of sediments. These indices, together with clay mineral compositions, suggest that the coarse-grained sediments originate from the volcanic rocks of Jeju Island, whereas the fine-grained sediments are derived from Chinese rivers, especially the Changjiang River. The oceanic circulation pattern and the physical-chemical properties of seawater in the Yellow and East China seal support the possibility that the fine-pained Changjiang (Yangtze River) sediments can reach the coastal area of Jeju Island (southeastern Yellow Sea).

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.333-341
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• 2010

Fluvial sediments are widely distributed in present and old river-beds of the mid-Keum River, the tributaries of which are the Yugu and Jeongan Rivers. The basement of the mid-Keum River area consists of Mesozoic granites which are easily eroded compared to Precambrian gneisses, which are exposed in the upper-Keum River area. The provenance of the fluvial sediments includes both the Precambrian gneisses and Mesozoic granites, which occur in the catchment of the mid-Keum River. The coarse-grained sediments were probably transported from the river-beds and the overbank floodings of the main Keum River and its tributaries when the climate was warm and wet. The oldest mud deposits were dated at ca. 9,400 yr BP by the radiocarbon method. It has been estimated that the sand deposits below the dated muds were formed in a period from the Late Pleistocene to the Early Holocene. However we have revealed that the major part of the present river-bed sediments was formed at ca. 3,000-6,000 yr BP, i.e., in the mid- to late Holocene, when summer monsoon was very strong due to climatic changes. We have calculated fluvial sedimentation rates of 0.12-0.16 cm/yr and 0.02-0.09 cm/yr for borehole KJ-29 river-bed sediments and borehole KJ-28 floodplain deposits, respectively. We conclude that the sedimentation rate is higher near the present stream channel than near the floodplain.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.101-108
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• 2002

Benthic organisms dwell in sediment-water interface that contains significant amount of organic and inorganic contaminants. Their feeding behavior is highly related with sediment itself and pore water in the sediments, especially in ease of deposit feeder (i.e. polychaete, amphipod). The acid volatile sulfide (AVS) is one of the important binding phases of sediment-bound metals in addition to organic matter and Fe and Mn oxide fractions in sediments, particularly in anoxic sediments. The AVS model is a powerful tool to predict metal bioavailability and bioaccumulation in benthic organisms considering SEM/AVS mole ratios in surficial sediments. However, several biogeochemical factors must be considered to use AVS model in the sediment-bound metal bioavailability.

• 한국해양학회지
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.34-45
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• 1986

A Q-mode factor analysis for 115 surficial bottom sediments on the continental shelf off the southeast coast of Korean Peninsula(the Korea Strait) has been carried out to determine the depositional environments. The first four factors are taken as the "principal" factors, and the results are considered to represent the depositional history and sedimentary processes in relation to the Holocene sea-level changes. The fact implies that the sediments are grouped as outer-shelf relict sand sediments, inner-shelf modern muddy sediments, and finally the palimpsest sediments that are mainly distributed within and around the Korea Trough.

• Journal of the korean society of oceanography
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.93-100
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• 2001

The concentrations of 20 congeners of PCBs were determined in surficial and dated sediments from Jinhae, Busan, Ulsan and Yeongil Bay of Korea to assess current distributions as well as historical trends. The concentration ranges of total CBs in sediments were nd-138.60 ng/g dry wt. The concentrations of total CBs were significantly different among bays in the southeastern coastal areas (Kruskal-Wallis Test, p=0.036), Showing the Order Of Busan>Ulsan>Yeongil>Jinhae Bay. Predominant PCB homologues were penta-, hexa- and hepta-CBs. The down-core distributions of PCBs showed that the highest concentrations occurred in the late 1960s, coinciding with the onset of industrialization of Korea. The compositions of PCB congeners in sediment among bays were uniform, suggesting that major sources were not changed over time.

• 한국해양학회지
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.66-77
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• 1992

Tidal sand ridges and sand waves are well developed in the Yellow Sea off Tae-An Peninsula, Korea. Their transport directions were inferred based on high resolution seismic profiles, surficial sediment characteristics and tidal regime. Tidal sand ridges are asymmetric, with long axes parallel to or slightly oblique to the dominant NE-SW tidal current direction. They show steep south and/or southeast flanks, which are in concordance with the apparent direction of internal cross-bedding in the south. Holocene sediments occur in accordance with distributional patterns of tidal sand ridges. These features indicate that Holocene active tidal sand ridges move toward the open sea in southeast, south and southwest direction. Sand waves which are distributed in flat sea floor with depth of about 40-60m show also asymmetric forms with a steep east-to-northeast face. Surficial sediments in the sand wave field are characterized by well sorted fine sands compared with poorly sorted adjacent areas. The sand waves appear to undergo easterly or northeasterly landward movement.